Compiled by Tony Neely of UK Athletics
KENTUCKY at VANDERBILT MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM | NASHVILLE, TENN. FEB. 11, 2020 ATTENDANCE: 11,598 Final Score: No. 12/12 Kentucky 78, Vanderbilt 64 Team Records and Series Notes
A dominant second half pushed Kentucky to its third win in a row and a 19-5 record overall.
UK will remain in at least a tie for the Southeastern Conference lead at 8-2, pending the results of LSU (Tuesday) and Auburn (Wednesday). The Wildcats are 5-2 in true road games, 4-2 on the SEC road. Vanderbilt is 9-15 overall, 1-10 in the league.
Kentucky leads the series 149-47 and has won eight in a row vs. the Commodores. UK has had to come from behind by at least 10 points in five of those eight wins.
UK leads 59-29 in Nashville, Tennessee, and has won four in a row in Memorial Gymnasium. Next up: Kentucky returns home Saturday as the Wildcats host Ole Miss. Game time is 2 p.m. and it will be televised on ESPN.
Player Notes
Tyrese Maxey had 25 points, four rebounds, two assists and tied a career best with two steals.
He made a career-high 10 field goals.It's his third game of 25 points or more this season. He also scored 26 vs. Michigan State and 27 vs. Louisville.
Immanuel Quickley totaled 18 points, five rebounds and three assists. He was a sharpshooter on 3 and frees, making 3 of 4 from long range and 7 of 7 at the foul line. It is his 13th straight game in double figures. Two of his 3-pointers came late to hold off Vanderbilt's final rally.
Nick Richards turned in another solid performance with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. UK is 18-1 this season when he scores in double figures. His three blocks all occurred in the first 2:05 of the second half to spark Kentucky's second-half rally.
Ashton Hagans had 11 points, a career-high 10 rebounds and a game-high eight assists.
It is his second double-double of the season, third of his career. UK is 9-0 in his career when he gets six or more rebounds.
EJ Montgomery contributed six points, including four key free throws during the second-half surge, and had a strong floor game with nine rebounds and three blocked shots.
Coach John Calipari
Coaching his 400th game at Kentucky, Calipari is now 324-76 at UK. He has a 769-216 all-time on-court record. UK is 262-43 against unranked foes under Calipari. Kentucky is 145-40 under Calipari in SEC regular-season games.He improved to 19-4 all-time vs. Vanderbilt.
Team Notes
Kentucky limited Vanderbilt to 37.3% from the field. UK is 199-19 (.913) under Calipari when keeping the opponent at 40% or less, including 12-3 this season. UK won the rebounding 43-32.
UK is 16-0 this season when claiming the board battle.Kentucky has 12 blocked shots, only one shy of the season high vs. Lamar.
Threes and frees keyed the Wildcats offensively. Kentucky made 6 of 9 from 3-point range. 66.7% is a season high. Entering the game at 78.7% at the foul line, the Wildcats had another solid performance at 84.2% (16 of 19). It is UK's sixth straight game shooting 80% or better and the Cats are 85.1% during that span. Kentucky led by as many as 15 points during the game. UK is 279-7 under Calipari when leading by at least 10 points during the game.
The starting lineup consisted of Ashton Hagans, Tyrese Maxey, Immanuel Quickley, EJ Montgomery and Nick Richards for the 10th time this season. The Wildcats are 8-2 with the lineup.
Keion Brooks Jr. was UK's first substitute at the 15:17 mark.
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